Liquid-feeding device



v. A. SEARLES LIQUID FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 19. 1923 Dec. 18, 1928] I1,695,182

Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

I rureo s'rArEs v "1,695,782 PATENT OFFICE.

VOLNEY A. SEARLES, OF JACKSON, IMI'ICI-IIGAN,v ASSIGNOR TOSTEVART-W'ARNER SPEEDOMETEB CORPORATION, OF CI-IICAGQYILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA.

LIQUID-FEEDING nnvron.

Application filed Qctber'19, 1923 ScriaLNo. 669,478.

This invention relates to certain improvements in liquid feeding devicesforuse particularly in supplying liquid fuel to internal combustionengines ot' automobiles and the like, in connection with which it isvery often desirable to have. the primary fuel tankcan ried on thevehicle at a level below the carburetor. 7 1

Such tank structures usually embody an upper chamber and a lower chamberwith valved means of communication between.

them for effecting intermittent: discharge from the upper chamber to thelower chamber when atmospheric pressure ex sts in the updetails ofconstruction of the device, all as As illustrated, the liquid feedingdevice.

comprises a tank l., divided by a partition 2- into an upper chamber 3-and a lower chamber 4. The'upper chamber is provided with the usualliquid connection -39-, suction connection -40 and atmosphericconnection l1. The suction con nection is controlled by valve 4t2mounted 7 upon a float stem -5'which moves in conjunction with the float6- disposed in the chamber -3, while the atmospheric vent -41 iscontrolled loya valve 7 actuated by a lever 8- adapted to be moved byspring 9,- which has its outer end connected to the lever -8 and itsinner end connected to the float stem 5, so that as the float stem movesthe spring 9' to opposite sides of the pivot 10 ot the lever -8 thevalve 7-- will be snapped to open or closed position, in accordance withthe position of the float. An additional spring 1l is provided connectedto the float and to an extending projection 12 for balancing the spring9 V The construction and operation of these parts of the device are thesame as those shown in Letters Patent No. 1 255347, issued to lVilliamSparks under date of February 5, 19 18. The connection between thechamber 4lro1n which liquid is adapted to be discharged by gravitythrough a pipe 3- to any suitable consun'nng'device as the carburetorjis efl'lected by means of the siphon tube l%lwhich preferablyextends to substantially the lower partof the chamber 4:- and penetratesthe partition wall 2 The other endot this siphon terminates in chamber Sand is provided with a valve chamber -15- which contains a float valve,16- which may be of cork, or any other suitable material adapted to bebuoyed by the liquid in chamber 3,, so as to automatically open thepassage -17+ when atmospheric condition exists in chamber 3. I Toprevent'the float from closing the siphon when it is moved upwardly bythe buoyancy of the liquid the leg -18 preferably penetrates the valvecasing and extends some distance into the valve casing, and is providedwith a series of recesses -l9 in its lower end tormlug means ofcommunication between the siphon. leg --18 and the valve chamber -15-. v

A. normal level of liquid is n' aint'ained by this structure in chamberso as to keep the float 21 in a position shown in Figure 1 so that. theprojection '22 does not interfere with the closing oi the float valve16- by gravity. This float --2l is preferably mounted upon a stempivoted in. journals 28 carried by the lower end of the valve casing 15and has a'projection -22 adapted to lie in the position shown in Figure1,'or when the level of liquid is such that the float -2l is notmaintained in the position shown 111 Figure 1, it may drop to anyposition as limited by contact of projection 22 with the wall of theopening 17 as shown in Figure 2.

It will be seen that if the level of liquid in the chamber-3- dropsbelow the normal level which would maintain float -21 in the positionshown in Figure 1, the lowering of float -2l will elevate the projection22 into the port governed by the float valve 16 maintaining the same inopen position, so that the suction produced in the upper chamber willelevate the liquid from the chamber 4 through the siphon tube intochamber -3 until suiiicient liquid-has been raised in the chamber so asto move the float -21 to the position shown in Figure l, or to such aposition that the projection 22 does not lie in the path of the closingmovement of the float valve -16. In other words, if the normal level ofliquid is not maintained in chamber 3-, the siphon will be renewed byelevation of liquid through the'siphon tube into the chamber 3-, andfrom that point on all liquid fuel will be drawn from the rear tankuntil the motor stops. When the motor starts again the. siphon isrenewed in the same manner.

It will be understood that the connection of the chamber 3 with thesuction line and existence of vacuum in the chamber 3,

and upon the production of atmospheric pressure therein, is raised fromits seat by the buoyancy of the liquid.

A normal level of liquid is maintained in the lower chamber labove thedischarge end of the siphon tube -14l so that the renewal of the siphonabove described can be effected by elevation of liquid in chamber 4-into chamber 8 at the starting of the operation of the device, shouldthat be necessary.

Although I have shown and described a particular construction asillustrative of a perhaps preferred embodiment of my invention, I do notdesire to limit myself to the details of construction or operation ofthe device, as various changes, modifications and substitutions may bemade without departing from the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

The valve -16 is held I claim 1. In a device of the class described, anupper chamber and a lower chamber, means for alternating vacuum andatmospheric? pressure in the upper chamber, a siphon tube connectingsaid chambers and having-one leg terminating in the upper chamber andits other leg terminating in the lower chamber, a float valvecontrolling communication of said siphon with the upper chamber, andmeans for holding said float-valve open when the level of liquid inthe'upper chamber is a predetermined point. r

2. In a. device of the class described, an upper chamber and a lowerchamber, means for maintaining atmospheric pressurein the lower chamber,means for alternating-vacuum and'atmospheric pressure in the upperchamber, a siphon tube having one leg terminating in the upper chamberand its other leg terminating in the lower chamber, a valve casingassociated with the end of said leg terminating in the upper chamber, afloat in said chamber adapted to close communication between the upperchamber and said siphon tube, and means for holding said float in aposition to permit communication between below the upper chamber and thesiphon tube-when the liquid in the upper chamber is below apredetermined level.

3. In a device of the class described, an upper chamber and a lowerchamber, means for alternating vacuum and atmospheric pressure in theupper chamber and a siphon tube connecting said chambers and having oneleg terminating in the upper chamber and the other leg terminating inthe lower chamber, a buoyancy-actuated valve controlling communicationof said siphon with the upper chamber and means for holding said valveopen when the level of liquid in the upper chamber is below apredetermined point,'said means comprising a lever arm fulcrumed betweenits ends with a float at one end and with the other end disposed toengage said valve through the port which it governs.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of October,1923(- vonn'nv A. snaniins.

